Suicide rates, ADHD diagnoses, gaming addiction, and adolescent depression are increasing exponentially. It’s difficult to ignore the number of children burdened by stress, anxiety, and unhealthy beliefs. Students struggle to cope in ways that reinforce labels defining them as difficult to teach.

However, the brain is malleable and new experiences can rewrite the story! The Emotionally Connected Classroom helps educators create environments that promote healthy attachments and repair neural dysregulations that impair learning capacity. Readers will find

User-friendly explanations of neuroscience and human behavior

Strategies and assessment tools to help teachers shift from content-focused learning and assessment to learning that prioritizes wellness

Lesson templates to help “train the brain”

Strategies to address dysfunctional behavior

Engaging stories and authentic case studies that bring theory to life

Written with the belief that educators play a critical role in students’ lives, this book offers a new paradigm of connectedness that allows teachers to develop social-emotional learning practices that benefit all of their students.

Prologue - Survival Mode

Inubu

Johnny

Introduction

Chapter 1. Hunter Gatherers in the Classroom

Chapter 2. Connection Intentions, the Good Wolf, and the Six Ps

Chapter 3. Experiences, Emotions, Attachments, and Scary Kittens

Chapter 4. Where Did My True Self Go?

Chapter 5. Emotional Addictions in the Classroom

Chapter 6. The Six Ps Attachment Strategies: Rewiring the Brain

Chapter 7. Drug Addicts, Gamblers, Classrooms, and Dogs

Chapter 8. Relaxed Environments, Safety, and Structure

Chapter 9. The Lesson and Unit Plan

Chapter 10. Control, Drama, and Choice

Chapter 11. A Bold Proclamation for Change

Epilogue: Prayers in a Food Truck

Supplementary Materials

Connection Intentions and the Six Ps

Sample Intention Unit Plans/Subject Intentions

The Kinderbuddy Lesson Plan

“The Emotionally Connected Classroom is a must-read for teachers and administrators interested in truly reaching all students in today’s classrooms. It addresses the very basic need students face to feel connected and belong so that learning can happen. In an ambitious way, it outlines some of the very real challenges of working alongside students who have difficult lives and gives practical strategies and a framework to do exactly this.

Starting with a belief that all students can and want to learn and belong, using the six Ps of People, Purpose, Play, Passion, Present Thinking, and Personal Challenge and Learning, Bill Adair guides teachers through making intentional connections. Emotions are not to be feared or avoided but rather embraced and understood from knowing the learner. There are so many pearls of wisdom in this very readable book, and it is enlivened with students’ stories that illustrate the principles. I highly recommend it!!”

"Social-emotional learning (SEL) is at the forefront of many educational and policy conversations. Bill Adair has created a comprehensive, practical, and useful go-to guide that busy educators can use for each initiative they are tackling. The Emotionally Connected Classroom is a powerful anchor text for teachers' on-going work and deepening understanding of the importance of SEL."

Abbey Duggins, PhD, Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Saluda County Schools, South Carolina

"All teachers have experienced the frustration of trying to teach disconnected children. Bill Adair shows how powerful helping children learn to connect, feel a sense of belonging, and feel a sense of purpose can be in changing lives for the better."

Kathy Rhodes, Principal

Hinton Schools, Iowa

"The Emotionally Connected Classroom tackles some critical issues that teachers need to address when dealing with today’s students."

Dr. Scott Mandel, Teacher, Author, and Staff Development Leader

Los Angeles Unified School District

"The Emotionally Connected Classroom is engaging and easy to read. The author has written about topics that are relevant to issues in education and he does a great job connecting theory to current events. This book will give educators who don't have mental health training the confidence and tools to work with struggling students."

Leslie Goines, School Counselor

Massac County High School, Illinois

"The Emotionally Connected Classroom is important and relevant in today's school climate. Bill Adair promises and delivers on providing a book that makes connections between what happens in schools and healing of students who have experienced trauma."

Bonnie Tryon, Ed.D, Mentor and Coach

Cobleskill-Richmondville Central School, New York

"Learning to connect isn’t easy, but it is the key in education. The Emotionally Connected Classroomintertwines and describes many life connections teachers and students share. This book needs to be available in all schools so that every teacher can experience the freedom in knowing there is hope for students who may seem hopeless.

Michelle Strom, Language Arts Teacher and Mentor

Lander Schools, Wyoming

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